Hopes for a potential breakthrough in ending Russia’s war on Ukraine rose Monday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump signalled their willingness to pursue trilateral peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at the White House ahead of a day of critical consultations with European leaders, Trump said he would support NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine but stopped short of promising direct US military involvement. Instead, he described a “NATO-like” framework in which allies would commit to Ukraine’s defence under a collective arrangement.
“They want to give protection and they feel very strongly about it and we’ll help them out with that,” Trump said. “I think it’s very important to get the deal done.”
The discussions come just days after Trump met Putin in Alaska, a summit that fuelled speculation over possible concessions that could shape the contours of any peace settlement. Trump later suggested that the “onus” was now on Zelenskyy to make compromises, hinting that territorial issues such as Crimea and the Donbas could remain stumbling blocks.
Zelenskyy struck a cautiously optimistic tone as he began talks with Trump. “We are ready for trilateral as president said,” he remarked. “It’s a good signal about trilateral. I think this is very good.”
The White House meetings brought together a formidable group of European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Their collective presence underscored the importance Europe places on securing Ukraine’s sovereignty and safeguarding the continent from future Russian aggression.
For Europe, the high-profile gathering also served to reassert their role in negotiations after being excluded from Trump’s recent one-on-one summit with Putin. Many leaders arrived in Washington determined to protect Ukraine’s interests and ensure the United States remained aligned with their security objectives.
“Clearly there are no easy solutions when talking about ending a war and building peace,” Italy’s Meloni told reporters. “We have to explore all possible solutions to guarantee peace, to guarantee justice, and to guarantee security for our countries.”
Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that any settlement must result in lasting peace, not a fragile ceasefire. In a statement before the meeting, he warned: “We understand that we shouldn’t expect Putin to voluntarily abandon aggression and new attempts at conquest. That is why pressure must work, and it must be joint pressure – from the United States and Europe, and from everyone in the world who respects the right to life and the international order.”
Yet Trump’s recent comments on social media complicated the diplomatic landscape. He suggested that Ukraine could not expect to regain Crimea and reiterated his opposition to Kyiv joining NATO. “No getting back Obama-given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!” he wrote.
The potential shape of security guarantees remains under discussion. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has floated the idea of a NATO-like commitment that would bind allies to defend Ukraine if attacked, short of granting full NATO membership. European officials, however, remain wary that Putin still seeks full control of the Donbas region and may use any temporary ceasefire to regroup for further offensives.
Zelenskyy faces a delicate balancing act. Ukrainian officials insist that yielding Donbas to Russia is unconstitutional and strategically dangerous, potentially giving Moscow a staging ground for future aggression. But rejecting such concessions risks accusations that Kyiv is blocking peace efforts. “This meeting will likely be very tough for Zelenskyy,” one European diplomat said, noting that Ukraine’s president must rely on diplomatic tact to avoid isolation while upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Putin sought to consolidate support from beyond the West, holding calls with leaders of India, Brazil and South Africa to brief them on his Alaska discussions with Trump. The Kremlin framed the talks as constructive but provided few details.
As the White House meetings continued into the evening, officials on both sides acknowledged the difficulty of reaching consensus. What remains clear is that Ukraine’s future security and sovereignty are now at the centre of a new phase of intense diplomacy — one in which Washington, Moscow and Kyiv could soon find themselves negotiating face-to-face.
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